Watch



.hme3Q51936. I L FLORMAN 2,046,065

WATCH Original Filed Dec. 5, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l Qwuentoz u z 6'4 gm I. FLORMAN June 30, 1936.

WATCH his Patented June 30, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application December 3, 1930, Serial No. 499,801 Renewed April 20, 1935 6 Claims.

This invention relates to watches, and more particularly to watches of a type which are provided with means to keep them normally wound.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a watch which requires no attention as far as the winding is concerned. A second object is to provide a watch which is partially wound whenever the user looks at the face to ascertain the time. Another object is to provide a simple and effective structure for this purpose.

Still another object is to provide a novel method of mounting a watch for movement into and out of a casing, and means for winding the watch during such movement. A further object is to provide a watch which upon pressure of a button or other manually operated member will be ejected from a casing for inspection.

The subject matter of the invention may be used in many ways. For example, the watch and casing may be made small enough to be carried in a pocketbook, or the casing may be mounted in an automobile. Other and varying uses will be obvious.

Other objects and advantages will appear more fully from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which form a part thereof.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of one form of the device, with the watch in its outer position.

Fig. 2 is a similar View with the face plate removed and the watch in locked position.

Fig. 3 is a detail view of the locking means.

Fig. 4 is an end view of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation with the face plate removed of a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a cross section on the line 66 of Fig. 5.

In the form shown in Figs. 1 to 4, a rectangular casing 2 is provided, one side of which is covered by a face plate 4. This face plate is preferably removable to permit access to the interior of the casing. A Watch movement 8 substantially triangular in shape and provided with a face 8 is pivoted at l0 within the casing. A portion 12 of one end wall of the casing is secured to the watch movement in any suitable fashion. It is obvious that the watch movement may swing out of the casing, and that when it is in the position shown in Fig. 2 the plate I2 will close the space through which the watch movement moves.

A spring I4 is used to urge the watch constant- 1y to its outer or uncovered position. This spring is secured at Hi to one wall of the casing, while its free end l8 presses against a lug or projection 20 fixed on the watch casing 6. The spring, acting in the direction of the arrow (2 (Fig. 2) tends to push the watch movement into the position shown in Fig. 1. To hold the watch within the casing, a spring metal strip 22 secured at 24 to the Wall of the casing is provided. The free end of this strip is supplied with an opening 26, and is bent downward slightly, as at 28. The upper edge of the plate I2 is provided with a hook 30 which engages in the opening 26. This hook has a slight taper so that it will press the spring strip downward and slip into the opening when the watch is moved to closed position. To release this hook or look, a button 32 is provided, which rests on the spring strip and has a reduced extension :M passing through an opening in the top of the casing, and operable by the finger of the user.

An extension 36 on the rear of the watch, which remains in the casing when the watch swings out, serves to support the movement when it is in open position so that the whole weight is not placed on the pivot I0. These extensions are, however, purely optional. In order to limit the swinging movement of the Watch, the lower portion 38 of the plate i2 is extended beyond the edge of the watch, and a plate 40 is secured to the inner side of the end wall of the casing to overlap the end 38. When the Watch swings out, the end 38 strikes the casing, as shown in broken lines in Fig. 2, and thereby prevents further outward movement.

The winding stem 42 is provided with an enlarged head 4d formed with teeth which mesh with the teeth of a segmental rack 56 secured to one wall of the casing. Preferably, the watch is of the type in which movement of the stem is effective to wind the watch in one direction only. This is preferably chosen so that the watch is wound when it is pushed into the casing. An overwind mechanism of any well known type is provided between the stem and the spring of the Watch, so that the watch may be moved into and out of the casing as often as may be desirable without damage to the watch movement.

The operation of the device is clear from the foregoing description. When the user wishes to look at the watch, the button 32, 3 3 is depressed, thus moving downward the strip 22 and releasing the hook 30 from the opening 26. The spring M then pushes the watch around its pivot to the limit of its open position. During this movement, the stem is turned by the rack, but the watch is not wound because of the one way connection between the stem and. the spring. The watch is then pushed back into the casing until the hook again engages in the opening 26, which has returned to its normal position because of the resilient nature of the strip 22. This lock then holds the watch in the casing. During the return movement, the stem engages the rack and is rotated thereby to wind the watch. This operation may be repeated as aften as is desired, because the overwind mechanism, for example, a slip clutch, prevents damage to the Watch spring even if the stem is turned when the Watch is fully wound. If the watch runs down, it may be rewound by a few repetitions of the operation heretofore described.

To set the watch, the winding stem may be pulled out or depressed, as the case may be, whenever the watch is outside the casing, and the watch may then be set as desired. Inasmuch as the gear is then out of engagement with the rack, this procedure is simple.

A modified form of the invention is shown in Figs. 5 and 6, in which the watch has a square or round face and is slidably mounted in the casing. In this form, the casing 2', watch movement 6, dial or face 8, plate l2, strip 22, hook 35', button 32', 36, winding head er, and rack :36 correspond in general construction to those shown in the first form. The only difference is in shape, the movement being rectangular, the dial preferably square or round, and the rack straight. The watch is guided in the casing between the bottom wall 59 and the rack t5. Lugs 52 on the watch running in grooves 55 in the back and front Walls of the casing also help to guide the movement of the watch. The grooves 5 end at 55 at a point slightly spaced from the edge of the casing and thereby serve to limit the movement of the watch out of the casing.

In order to support the watch when in extended position, extensions 35 are provided. Coil springs 94, or other suitable means, may be provided for urging the watch out of the casing.

It is evident that, as in the first form, depression of the button 32, 35' will release the hook 3E3, whereupon springs M will push the watch into its extended position, so that the dial is visible. When the watch is pushed back, the stem l t engages the rack and the watch is wound.

If desired, the winding stem and the gear thereon may be provided with a disk 68, at the outer or upper end of the gear and of a greater diameter than the gear. This disk aids in pulling out the stem for setting the watch.

While I have described some embodiments of my invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not intend to limit myself thereby except within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination, a casing, a watch pivoted in said casing for movement edgewise into the casing into concealed position and out of the casing into visible position and having a Winding stem, a gear on said winding stem, a segmental rack in said casing and engaging said gear, said gear and rack cooperating during movement of said watch into said casing to wind said watch.

2. In combination, a casing, a watch pivoted in said casing for movement edgewise into the casing into concealed position and out of the casing into visible position and having a winding stem, a gear on said Winding stem, at segmental rack in said casing and engaging said gear, said gear and rack cooperating during movement of said watch into said casing to wind said watch, spring means normally urging said watch out of said casing, and releasable means to lock said watch in said casing against the action of said spring means.

3. In combination, a casing, a watch pivoted in said casing for movement edgewise into the casing into concealed position and out of the casing into visible position and having a winding stem, a gear on said Winding stem, a segmental rack in said casing and engaging said gear, said gear and rack cooperating during movement of said watch into said casing to wind said watch, a lug on said watch offset from the pivot thereof, a spring in said casing engaging said lug and normally urging the watch out of the casing.

4. In combination, a casing, a watch pivoted in said casing for movement edgewise into the easing into concealed position and out of the casing into visible position and having a winding stem, a gear on said winding stem, a segmental rack in said casing and engaging said gear, said gear and rack cooperating during movement of said watch into said casing to wind said watch, a lug on said watch offset from the pivot thereof, a spring in said casing engaging said lug and normally urging the watch out of the casing, means to lock said watch in said casing against the action of said spring, and manually operable means for releasing said locking means.

5. In combination, a casing substantially rectangular in cross section and having an open side, a watch movable edgewise into and out of said casing through said open side, means in said casing to guide said watch in its edgewise move ment, means operated by the movement of the Watch with respect to the casing to wind said watch, said watch having a winding stem, said last mentioned means comprising a pinion mounted on said winding stem and a rack mounted in said casing in the path of the pinion, means within said casing constantly urging the watch out of said casing, and a manually releasable means to retain said watch within the casing against the force of said last named means.

6. In combination, a casing substantially rectangular in cross section and having an open side, a watch slidably mounted in said casing to move edgewise into and out of the same through said open side, means to guide the watch in its sliding movement comprising a groove on the inner face of one of said walls which is parallel to the bottom Wall and extends towards but is spaced from said opening, and a lug on said watch engaging in said groove, means operated by the movement of the watch with respect to the case to wind the watch, said watch having a winding stem, said last means comprising a pinion mounted on said winding stem and a rack mounted in said casing in the path of said pinion, means within said casing constantly urging the Watch out of said casing, and a manually releasable means to retain said watch within the easing against the force of said last named means.

IRVING FLORMAN. 

